What happened between Mark Ruffalo and Paramount? Actor responds to the film studio’s antisemitism accusations

Zachary D. Lyngdoh Mon, August 24, 2026 at 6:26 AM UTC

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Mark Ruffalo responds to the film studio’s antisemitism accusations ©Getty

Mark Ruffalo has responded to Paramount's accusation that he used antisemitic tropes in criticizing the studio's proposed $111 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. The argument erupted after Ruffalo linked Oracle's ties to Israel's military to the media deal. The actor defended his words, calling the accusation "appalling and fundamentally dishonest," in a statement posted on X.

Why did Paramount accuse Mark Ruffalo of antisemitism?

The dispute began after Mark Ruffalo opposed the proposed $111 billion Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger and emphasized Oracle's ties to Israel.

According to The New York Post, Mark Ruffalo uploaded a video in which Oracle executive Safra Catz discusses how the company delivered advanced technology to Israel following the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023. Referring to Oracle's involvement with the Israeli military, Ruffalo claimed that the business was enabling what he called Israel's "genocide" in Gaza and an "apartheid system of oppression."

Ruffalo also slammed billionaire Larry Ellison, the father of Paramount Skydance's CEO David Ellison. He said that Larry was using his fortune to finance his son's acquisition of Paramount, and questioned why the merger should proceed given Oracle's ties with Israel's military technologies.

The actor also said that the transaction itself created greater concerns. According to Mark Ruffalo, merging Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery will further centralize media ownership, jeopardize editorial independence, wipe out jobs across Hollywood, and give a single family huge control over important news and entertainment brands.

Paramount responds

Paramount took no time to respond. They responded with an extremely strong public statement. According to The Independent and The New York Post, the company claimed it was "troubled when antisemitic tropes are invoked in purported service of a business dispute."

The studio specifically criticized Ruffalo's use of phrases like "genocide" and "apartheid," claiming that applying those words to a corporate transaction was misleading and minimized the pain associated with those terms.

Paramount also stated that it does not accept discrimination against anyone, and urged critics to focus on the merger's legal merits rather than offensive rhetoric. The company also stated that talks over the deal should be based on facts rather than language, which could further divide public opinion.

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Several Jewish organizations, including the Simon Wiesenthal Center, Anti-Defamation League (ADL), and the Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation, publicly backed Paramount's response.

Mark Ruffalo says criticism of Israel is not antisemitism

A day after Paramount accused him of using antisemitic tropes, Mark Ruffalo published a detailed statement on X, strongly denying the accusation. The actor claimed his criticism was addressed at political leaders, military technology contracts, and corporate executives, not Jewish people. The Hulk actor wrote:

"The accusation that I am antisemitic is appalling and fundamentally dishonest. Criticizing the actions of the Israeli prime minister, a military technology contract, or the executives who supply it is not the same as criticizing Jewish people. This critical and necessary dialogue is then dishonestly framed as being anti-Israel."

Mark Ruffalo went on to explain that his views are based on his own political opinions and should not be taken as hostility toward Jews:

"To be clear, my views come from my own political convictions and should never be interpreted as hostility toward Jewish people, for whom I have deep love and respect. Everything I know about acting, activism, and humanism has been profoundly shaped by the Jewish friends, colleagues, and loved ones who have been integral and family throughout every point of my life."

The actor also maintained his criticism of the proposed Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger, stating that the deal deserves more public scrutiny due to its possible influence on the media industry:

"This merger has real consequences for real people, and for the entire country. Scrutinizing the Ellisons, including Oracle’s business built on data, surveillance technology and government contracts, and the serious threat to editorial freedom and the loss of a livelihood for thousands of families, is fair and necessary."

He further stated that the $111 billion transaction will transfer control of key media organizations such as CNN, HBO, and Warner Bros. to a single family, raising unaddressed questions about foreign influence on editorial decisions.

Ruffalo concluded his response by arguing that the merger should be put on hold until regulators properly address their concerns:

"Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have called for serious national security review, and regulators still haven’t given the public a real answer. Until they do, the merger shouldn’t move forward. Now is the time to dive boldly into all these issues, not step back or concede."

The controversy arises as the proposed deal continues to face legal challenges.

According to The New York Post, a coalition of 12 US states and the Writers Guild of America (WGA) has challenged the merger, claiming it would diminish competition, jeopardize jobs, and harm consumers and creative workers. A federal judge is presently investigating the lawsuits, putting the merger on hold while regulators investigate the transaction.

Stay tuned to Soap Central for more information.

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”